Fuse holder



"Pin- Oct. 5 1926. v

D. E. SIMPSON FUSE HOLDER Original Filed May 23, 1924 A l l ll Indnffi'r I Daniel E. Simpson Q Mr His Attc ar-ngy Patented Oct. 5, 1926.

jUNITED STA DANIEL E. SIMPSON,

OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

rosin HOLDER.

Application filed Kay 28, 1924, Serial No. 716,524. Renewed July 18, 1928.

My invention relates to fuse holders and has for its object the provision of a fuse holder embodying a closed protective cas-' in for the fuse and contact parts.

hfy invention has particular application in installations in which the fuse holder is exposed to moisture or other conditions tending to have a corrosive or otherwise destructive effect on the fuse and contact parts associated with it. In carrying out my invention I provide a casing for the fuse which is provided with a water-tight cover. the contact clips for the fuse being secured to the casing and cover respectively.

For a more complete understanding of my invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a fuse holder embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; while Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation View showing a modified form.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing,

" vI have shown my invention in one form as being mounted on a suitable support 10 which may be a switchboard panel. The fuse holder comprises a hollow cylindrical receptacle member or body 11 made of a suitable insulating material, such as bakelite. One end of the bod 11 is closed; as shown, the left-hand en is closed. The member 11 is mounted in an a erture 12 in the support 10 and is provi ed with a flange 13 which is seated on the support. It

is held in place on the sup ort by means of a tubular member 14, the ore 15 of which is slight] larger than the member 11.

This mem r 14 is slipped over the open end of member 11 and is p1 ovided with a square base 16 through whic screws 17 extend into the support 10 and hold the member in place thereon. Preferably a gasket 19 is provided between member 14 and the supportso as to form a water-tight joint.

Mounted on'th'e bottom or end wall 24 of the member 11 is a fuse contact clip or receptacle 25 which is provided with a termi, nal 26 extending through the wall 24. As shown, the terminal 26 is rovided with a head which engages the on side of wall 24 and has its inner end peened over to secure.

their ends whereby the contacts are pressed inward against the fuse. A helical spring 30 is provided in the contact clip 25. T his spring is compressed when the fuse is in serted and .acts in a direction to force the fuse out. The contact clip .32 for the opposite end of the fuse is carried on a cap or cover 33 which closes the member 14. This cover is provided with an inner cylindrical body 34 of insulating material which fits loosely in the bore of member 14. In the inner end of the insulating body is a recess 35 in which the contact clip 32 is secured, for example, by riveting or otherwise securing it to a metal ic body 36 which is imbedded in the body of insulating material 34.

The contact clip 32 is similar in form'to contact clip 25. Electrically connected to the. clip 32 at its base are four oppositely disposed contact arms 37 These contact arms are longer than the contact projections of the clip 32 and extend into the member 14 for a short distance into engagement with a contact ring 39 of suitable electric c0nducting material which is secured in the outer end of member 11, the member 11 being countersunk to receive the ring 39. This contact ring is secured in lace by means of two or more insulated r0 s 40 and 41 of electrical conducting material which extend lengthwise of member 11 in grooves provided for' --them in member 11 and through the end wall 24 where the rods are riveted or otherwise secured to a terminal ring 42. Besides securing the rings 39 and 42 to the member 11, the rods form an electrical connection between the two. It will thus be observed that when a fuse is inserted and the cover put in place, as shown in Fig. 2, a circuit is closed from terminal 26 through the fuse, contact arms 37, com tact rin 39, and the rods 40 and .41 to the terminal 42. "Y

The cover 33 is seated on a rin 45, made of insulating material which is inserted in the member 14 and suitably secured thereto to form a Water-tight joint, for example, by

means of varnish or shellac. As shown, the end of member 11 may be formed to provide a shoulder against which an inner ring 45 of insulating material bears so as to hold the member 11 firmly in. its seat in support 10. The opposite end of ring 45 rests against a shoulder on the interior of member 14. A suitable material for the rings 45 and 45= is a fabric impregnated with bakelite. As shown, the two rings together form an insulating layer on the interior of member 14 and prevent accidental grounding of the circuit when the fuse is being inserted. The cover is held seated by means of a spring 46 acting on a pin 47. The spring and pin are carried on a U-shaped bail member 48 which straddles the member l4 and has its ends pivotally connected thereto, for example, by means of tubular rivets 49 and 50 secured to member 14. When the cover is secured in closed position, the pin 47 is seated in a depression 51 in the center of the cover. The pin then extends axially of the member 14. By swinging member 48 on its pivot axis to one side as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, the pin 47 may be moved to disengage the cover. As shown, the outer surface of the cover is substantially semi-spherical in shape and has a radius which is considerably shorter than the radius of the circle described by the inner end of pin 47 so that when member 48 is swung from the dotted to full line position (Fig. 1), the pin is forced outward gradually due to its engagement with the cover whereby spring 46 is compressed. Preferably, a gasket 52 is provided underthe cover so as to form a watertight joint.

In inserting a fuse, the cover 33 is removed and one end of the fuse inserted in clip 32. The contact arms of the clip exert sufficient pressure to hold the fuseso that it may be inserted into the enclosing portion of the holder formed by members 11 and 14 by grasping the cover and slipping it in place. The insulating member34 serves as a guide for the inner end of the fuse whereby it is caused to enter the other fuse. clip 25. The member 48 is then swung .to closed position. The removal of the fuse is facilitated by the spring 30 which tends to expel the fuse from clip 27 so that the fuse remains in the clip 32 and is removed with the cover. A knob 53 is provided on the end of pin 47. This knob may be used in swinging the member 48 and, if desired, it may be pulled out to retract the pin 47. Apertures 54 and 55 are provided in member 11 through which the gases generated when the fuse blows may escape.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modified form of clamp or securing means for the cover of the fuse holder. Instead of a spring plunger, a locking lever 56 having a cam 57 is provided on the member 58. By

The exposed portion of the fuse holder will be the sealed portion on the opposite side or front of the panel board, this portion being formed by member 14 which tightly engages the panel board and the cover 33 which seals member 14. It will be observed that the fuse while completely protected is at the same time readily accessible.

While I have described my invention as embodied in concrete form and as operating in a specific manner in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, it should be understood that I do not limit my invention thereto, since various modifications thereof will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims. 1

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A water-tight fuse holder comprising members forming a receptacle for the fuse arranged to be inserted in an aperture in a. supporting body, means for securing said receptacle to said body so as to form a water-tight joint therewith, a water-tight cover for said receptacle, fuse clips in said receptacle mounted on said receptacle and cover respectively, and quick releasable means for holding said cover on said receptacle.

2. A water-tight fuse holder comprising members forming a receptacle for the fuse arranged to be secured in an aperture in a supporting body and form a water-tight joint therewith, a water-tight cover for said receptacle, fuse clips in said receptacle mounted on said receptacle and cover respectively, and terminals for said fuse clips projecting from said receptacle on the opposite side of said supporting member from said cover.

3. A water-tight fuse holder comprising a member providing a cylindrical receptacle for the fuse arranged to be inserted in an aperture in a supporting body, a fuse clip mounted in said receptacle, a second member fitting over said first member and forming1 a water-tight joint with the su porting b0 y, a cover for said second mem r forming a water-tight joint therewith, a fuse clip carried by said cover, and releasable means for holding said cover in place.

4. A water-tight fuse holder comprising a member providing a cylindrical receptacle for the fuse arranged to be seated in an aperture in a supporting body, a fuse clip mounted in said receptacle, a second cylindrical member fitting-over said first member, means for securing said second member to said supporting body to form a water-tight joint therewith, a water-tight cover for said second member provided with a cylindrical portion arranged to be inserted in said second member, a fuse clip mounted in said cylindrical portion, and terminals for said fuse clips projecting from said first member on the opposite side of said supporting body from said cover.

5. A water-tight fuse holder comprisin a memberforming a cylindrical receptacle or the fuse arranged to be seated in an aperture in a supporting body, a second cylindrical member fitting over said first member, means for securing said second member to said sup porting body to form a water-tight joint therewith, a water-tight cover for said second member provided with a cylindrical portion arranged to be inserted in said second member, contact clips on said receptacle and cover arranged to receive a fuse between them when the cover is in place, electrical terminals projecting from said'receptacle on the opposite side of saidsupporting body from said cover, an electrical connection between one of said terminals and the contact clip on said receptacle, means for establishing an electrical connection between the other terminal and contact clip when the cover is put in place, and quick detachable-means for securing the cover including a bail secured to said second member and clamping means carried by said bail.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of May 1924.

QANIEL E. SIMPSON. 

